Last gasp plea for help before I drive the car off the Barton Motorway Bridge into the Manchester Ship Canal with me in it.

 

Earlier this summer, noticed a musty smell coming from the air vents when the blowers were on, which got progressively worse.  

 

In general the diagnosis seems to be this is caused by bacteria growing in the air vents / air con in damp conditions, which create the smell.

 

I have:

 

• Changed the cabin pollen filter

 

• Used a 'Comma' air con cleaner from Halfords (don't: whether or not they work, they stink, use another similar product) when air con is running

 

            This seemed to narrow down the problem to when the blowers are on only (not air-con)

 

• Had my trusty backstreet garage take a poke / clean around, including removing intake covers, cleaning in and around there, cleaning everything else that didn't involve taking the dashboard out  They suggested the small possibility of the smell coming from the heater element (access to that would be expensive, so in the meantime ... )

 

• The car has since required a service, including new air filter (so its not that)

 

• Driven around for ages with the temperature with blowers on full / alternating between hot air and cold / air con on to kill bacteria and dry out ducting (this is 'Honest John's solution)

 

• checked that the drain is not blocked / full of spiders etc (found it, checked it and it isn't)

 

• Used Euro car parts 'normfest' antibacterial cleaners, both the 'bomb' (set it off with windows closed and recirc, instructions say not to put air-con on) and the 'aerosol spray with long tube', to squirt the stuff down / up / into all the vents.

 

• Also tried similar with Dettol antibacterial spray, etc etc.

 

 

AND I CANNOT GET RID OF THIS F*CKING SMELL - !!!

 

Does anyone have any further / final suggestions before I head off for the Barton Bridge at the end of the day?

 

Cheers

 

Dismantle it and find the dead mouse (or slug) in one of the ducts. That's the only thing I can think of, as almost no amount of antibacterials will clear it.

Ahh it's a horrible job to remove the heater system :P

As a non-mechanic, how likely am I to regret taking out the glovebox etc?

As a non-mechanic, how likely am I to regret taking out the glovebox etc?

The glovebox is easy but to fully access the heater matrix it's a whole dashboard off job which is nothing more than a PITA

Have you tried the running at full hot then alternate between full cold (I'm sure u read about it on here somewhere when lookin for removing the stink for my carpets!)

 

In the end I used bicarbonate of soda

Edited 23 September, 201411 yr by SkUG

Assuming the rotting animal/vegetable matter came from outside the car rather than inside (hopefully!), then it should be upstream of the pollen filter, i.e. just before or after the blower.  So glovebox out for access to blower motor and associated ducting ought to be a good bet for finding it. Good luck.